“It started a few days ago. I’m an accountant at Haver Supply, and we had an issue last year with one of the accounts having a deficit. The one we use to pay any sales tax. Not that we have that much, but still…. So I wanted to make sure that we weren’t having that problem again. I was online checking balances and found that account had over two million dollars in it. I checked other accounts, and the payroll account had an extra three million and change in it, and others held millions that shouldn’t be there. I told my boss, Bryce, about it, and he said I must have made a mistake. The next time I looked, all the money was gone and the accounts balanced exactly.”
Eddie shrugged. “Okay. So maybe it was a mistake.”
“It wasn’t,” Marty said, holding the gaze of the pair of eyes he knew so well and wished he had never let go. “I took screenshots of the accounts before and after. I didn’t tell my boss about them. And I have the online account activity reports that show that the money was transferred out rather than the balance simply corrected by the bank.” He lowered his voice. “Someone transferred the money. It was no mistake.”
“And you have all this documentation?” Brian asked. Marty nodded. “Is it in your bag?”
He shook his head. There was no way he was having that on him. “I never said anything about anything at work. I let everyone think that I bought that I had made a mistake. And everything was normal until two nights ago when I went back to get my bag. I’d left it at the office and saw the man who was in here tonight coming out of Bryce’s office. I’ve felt like I’ve been followed ever since. And I was right.”
Eddie leaned over the table. “What were you doing out here, after dark, alone?”
“I was coming from my bank. I put paper copies of the screen shots in a safe-deposit box so they would be secure, and then when I thought I was being followed, I stopped in a stationery store, bought a shipping envelope, and dropped the keys in it and addressed it before placing the envelope in a mailbox. I didn’t know what to do with them, and if they found them on me….” He pursed his lips. “You could tell me I’m being paranoid, but I know I’m not.”
“I never said that, and for the record, I don’t think you are,” Eddie said. “I believe you.” He turned to Brian. “Can we look into this? I know we usually handle other sorts of cases, but….”
Brian nodded slowly. “I’ll clear it with the captain. If this is money laundering, then he’s going to want someone on this with experience and discretion.” Eddie rolled his eyes, and Marty wondered what that was about. “Can you get us copies of all this documentation? Also, is it possible to find out where the money was sent?”
“I can try, but I’m not sure. I’ll have to see what I can find in the accounts. It isn’t like I have access to the other end.” He glanced toward the door as a man entered, looked around, and then left once more. It wasn’t the guy from earlier, but it made Marty’s anxiety rise. Were they tag-teaming him now?
“Okay. Let’s get you home,” Eddie said.
“Yeah, right. My boss knows where I live, so I’m a sitting duck. You said you believe me, then if that’s true….”Or if you really give a damn at all.Marty kept that part to himself.
“Okay,” Brian interjected. “Let’s get Marty home so he can get some of his things and then we’ll have to find him a place to stay until we can figure this out.”
“I’ll get a hotel somewhere if I have to.” He had a little savings, though with the rates charged around here, it wasn’t going to last all that long. Marty was careful with his money, but a couple hundred bucks a night would go through cash pretty quickly.
“No. You can stay with me,” Eddie volunteered. “We’ve known each other a while, and if this is what it looks like, then we’re going to need you safe and out of sight as much as possible.” Eddie and Brian stood, and Marty did as well, picking up his coat. He put it on, grabbed his bag, and tossed his trash on his way out.
It was still raining as he got into the car with Eddie and Brian, giving them the address to the small house he was in. He didn’t say anything, just looked out the window until they pulled into the complex. He directed them to his building and indicated where they could park.
Eddie got out and followed him into the building and to his apartment. He let Marty unlock the door and then had him stand back before drawing his gun and checking the place out. “It’s okay,” he told Marty, who went inside.
He had done his best to make the place feel like home. He was a minimalist by nature, but he had pictures of family and friends on the walls, as well as a few prints from places he’d traveled. “I’ll get some clothes.”
“And any electronics. Don’t leave them here.”
“I won’t,” Marty said as he got a bag from his closet and put some clothes inside. He also took his tablet and charging cords. Once he was done, he found Eddie in the living room, looking at one of the pictures on the table.
“You kept this?” Eddie asked.
“Of course.” The two of them had gone on a trip to LA and went to Disneyland and Magic Mountain. His favorite picture was the both of them with Tigger. “I found it a few years ago and had it framed.” It was a great memory.
“You and I had so much fun on that trip. You went on every ride they had.”
Marty snickered. “And I remember the corkscrew was just one roller coaster too many. But that didn’t stop you from going on something else.” He stood next to Eddie, looking at the picture. In some ways it was like yesterday, and yet it also seemed like so long ago. A different life where they were happy and Marty thought that was how things were going to be forever.
“Are you packed?” Eddie asked, turning away and heading for the door. Marty grabbed his things and followed Eddie out of the apartment. He locked the door, and they went out to the car where Brian was waiting for them.
“Where is your car?” Brian asked after rolling down the driver’s window.
“I have a parking space on the other side of the building,” Marty answered.
“Get in. We’ll drive you around, and then you can follow us to the station. We’ll get the information you have and see what we can figure out.” Marty got in, and Brian drove him around thebuilding. Marty hurried to his car and followed Brian and Eddie to the police station a few miles away. He entered the lot where they did and parked next to Brian’s car. Then he went inside, and they led him to a room with a table and chairs.
“Let’s start with the documentation that you have,” Brian said as he sat down.
Marty opened his laptop and then put in his special password for a secure partition. Once he had access to the documents, he brought them up and walked through what they showed, step by step.
